Johnson began his career as a firefighter in 1982 with the Orange County Fire Department in Southern California. He joined the Livermore Fire Department in February 1985 and was promoted to captain in 1996 and battalion chief-training officer in 2011, according to a city of Pleasanton news release.

During his career with the department, Johnson represented the department as member of the Alameda County Training Officers Association, Bay Area Regional Transit and COL Safety Committees.

Johnson and his wife have three children and are grandparents of two granddaughters and a soon-to-be-born grandson. The traditional last roll call will take place at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 16 in front of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department Headquarters, 3560 Nevada St. in Pleasanton.